Event Planned to Raise Awareness of Domestic Violence, Assault

Decorated T-shirts hang on display in the student union during last year’s clothesline project. (Provided photo)

DUBOIS – Students, faculty and staff at Penn State DuBois are gearing up for an annual event that sheds light on domestic violence and raises awareness of how to stop it.

The Clothesline Project takes place each year on campus, as victims of past abuse and their supporters take a stand against domestic violence and assault.

Organized by the campus Students Allies, Friends and Educators (SAFE) Club and the sexual assault counseling and prevention organization, Passages, the Clothesline project is planned for 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. each day from April 14-16.

The Clothesline Project provides T-shirts and fabric paint to anyone who wishes to decorate a shirt. Each T-shirt color represents a different violent crime against women.

White for women who have died from violence; yellow or beige for women who have been battered or assaulted; red, pink or orange for women who have been raped or sexually assaulted; blue or green for women who are survivors of incest or child sexual abuse; purple or lavender for women attacked because of their sexual orientation, and black for women attacked for political reasons.

Messages of support are written or painted on the shirts and they are then placed on a clothesline for display.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The National Sexual Violence Resource Center has more information online.